The Minions Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

The Minions are back in their own solo movie! These little yellow fellows have stolen our hearts ever since the first Despicable Me film & now Illumination Entertainment has decided to tell their story.

Genre: Adventure / Animation / Comedy

Director: Pierre Coffin & Kyle Balda

Cast: Pierre Coffin, Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Jennifer Saunders, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Coogan, Hirozuki Sanada, Steve Carell & Geofrey Rush.

Run Time: 91 min.

US Release: 10 July 2015

UK Release: 26 June 2015

German Release: 2 July 2015

Ever since I saw Gru’s secret underground lab and was introduced to his childlike underlings, I’ve wondered where these lovable little creatures came from. To be fair, I always assumed Gru had created them in his lab to assist him, but thanks to this animation, I now know that the Minions have inhabited Earth long before humans did.

To start off, I left the theatre not quite satisfied. I’m not saying that it’s a bad film; it’s definitely well-made, but I still felt like something was missing when comparing it to the two Despicable Me movies. Nevertheless, this is a good animated adventure-comedy, filled with heart and silly antics.

Minions was directed by Pierre Coffin (who co-directed the previous two Despicable Me films) and Kyle Balda. The movie was released in Germany on July 2nd and will be released in the U.S. shortly after. Pierre Coffin also lends his voice to the tiny yellow creatures. The flick stars Sandra Bullock as Scarlet Overkill, Jon Hamm as Herb Overkill, Michael Keaton as Walter Nelson, Jennifer Saunders as the Queen, Geoffrey Rush as the Narrator, and many more.

The story of this cute little animation is simple. It follows the Minions’ quest over the centuries as they search for the most evil master they can serve. Stuart, Kevin, and Bob rise to the occasion and head out to the United States in search of Scarlet Overkill, the meanest villain of the 1960s.

The narrative is very amusing as we watch the Minions stumble through different eras, witnessing their endless streak of bad luck as they try to cling to one villain after another. Something I haven’t seen for quite some time, especially in an animated film, is such a strong depiction of Europeanness, and Minions definitely contributes to that. That’s likely because the creators of the Despicable Me franchise are French. As a German who lived in the UK, I’m quite fond of seeing one of Europe’s biggest cities as the main setting for a movie distributed by an American studio.

Another hint at the European influence is the language the Minions speak; a mix of Spanish, French, and Italian gibberish. While some English-speaking viewers might consider that a weakness, I found it to be a charming insight to the cultural mesh that is Europe.

Focusing on the comedic aspect, this prequel is a shining example of how to balance child-friendly humour with a dash of slightly edgier jokes. It never crosses the line, but there’s definitely enough there for adults to pick up on. In my opinion, it was a brave move by the studio, and one that paid off.

The final scene is easily my favourite part of the movie. I won’t spoil anything, because it’s best experienced firsthand, but let me just say this much: it had me cheering, applauding, and laughing all at once!

There are, however, a few aspects I didn’t like as much, particularly the first twenty minutes story. It’s not that I disliked the “history lesson” about the Minions, but, and this is becoming an annoyingly common topic, the trailers once again spoiled all of the introductory material.

As mentioned above, I thought that something was missing, namely, a strong character to fill Gru’s place. We were led to believe by the trailers that this would be Bullock’s Scarlet Overkill, but she has far too little screen time and ends up being more like a side character. A shame, since she’s supposed to be the main villain of the narrative. Bullock did a tremendous job and deserved much more involvement!

On the other hand the three main Minions successfully replaced Margo, Edith and Agnes’ angle of sweetness. Especially Bob (who was my favourite yellow fellow) is extremely cute and childlike. On the human front, Herb Overkill (Jon Hamm) was my preferable character. Hamm did not hold back at taking the mick out of the Brits. His intervention with our three heroes makes this movie even funnier.

On the other hand, the three main Minions successfully replaced Margo, Edith, and Agnes’ sweetness from Despicable Me. Bob, my favourite of the yellow trio, is especially adorable and childlike. On the human front, Herb Overkill (Jon Hamm) was the standout. Hamm did not hold back in poking fun at the Brits, and his interactions with our three “heroes” make the animation even funnier.

Cinematography and effects-wise, I can say this much: it’s as good as the Despicable Me pictures. The animation is great, including expressive faces, gestures, and eyes that clearly convey emotion. That’s impressive, considering that the first half-hour consists mostly of Minion-speak, yet you always understand what they mean thanks to the excellent computer graphics.

The music used in this film was a mix of popular music of this decade, and a fitting soundtrack from the 60’s. There is also a joke scene, concerning the Beatles crossing a street, as a tribute to the band.

Finally, the music combines popular songs from that decade with an upbeat score fitting the 1960s setting. There’s also a delightful little Beatles joke, referencing their famous crosswalk scene; a fun tribute to the band.

Verdict: Overall, Minions is a lovely spin-off from the Despicable Me creators. It’s full of heart, soul, and perfectly timed comedy. While it’s missing a few key elements and a truly strong villain, it’s still a beautifully told and entertaining adventure that deserves a trip to the cinema. I give this Universal animation a 7.5 out of 10.